Systems and methods for a group directed media experience

Abstract

Systems and methods for a media experience directed by a group are disclosed. One method comprises receiving input from a plurality of members of the group regarding a plurality of media content, creating a playlist of media content based at least in part on the received input, and playing the media content in the order in which the media content appear in the playlist.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for a media experience directed by a group, comprising: 
 receiving input from a plurality of members of said group regarding a plurality of media content;    creating a playlist of media content based at least in part on said received input; and    playing said media content in the order in which said media content appear in said playlist.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising registering at least one of said plurality of members prior to said receiving step.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising registering at least one member by receiving information from said at least one member.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising registering a wireless device of at least one of said plurality of members.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving input comprises receiving nominations for selected ones of said plurality of media content from said plurality of members.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising tracking past nominations of at least one of said plurality of members.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein receiving nominations comprises receiving nominations from said plurality of members based at least in part on a nomination privilege of said plurality of members.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein for each of said plurality of members said nomination privilege is selected from the group consisting of a time slot for which said member is permitted to nominate media content, total number of allocated nominations for said member, nominations made by but not released by said member, number of unused allocated nominations for said member and a weight to be given to said member's nomination.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising allowing selected ones of said plurality of members to provide nominations only from a media database and selected other ones of said plurality of members to provide nominations from a plurality of remote media databases in addition to said media database based at least in part on a member status.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising creating a nomination list from said plurality of media content.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising filtering said received nominations based on at least one criteria to create a nomination list.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying a nomination list on a display device.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving input comprises receiving votes for selected ones of said plurality of media content from said plurality of members for inclusion in said playlist.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising tracking past votes of at least one of said plurality of members.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising preventing at least one of said plurality of members from voting multiple times for a particular time slot.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising displaying past votes of at least one of said plurality of members in response to a request from said at least one member.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising creating a set of preferences for at least one of said plurality of members based at least in part on past votes of said at least one member.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising suggesting media content to said at least one member based at least in part on said set of preferences.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein receiving votes comprises receiving votes from said plurality of members based at least in part on a voting privilege of said plurality of members.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein for each of said plurality of members said voting privilege is selected from the group consisting of a time slot for which said member is permitted to vote for media content, total number of allocated votes for said member, votes cast but not released by said member, number of unused allocated votes for said member and a weight to be given to said member's vote.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising allowing at least one of said plurality of members to change its current votes.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 allowing at least one of said plurality of members to browse a nomination list; and    receiving votes from said at least one member for at least one media track in said nomination list.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating said playlist comprises selecting a predetermined number of media content from said plurality of media content for inclusion in said playlist.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating said playlist comprises selecting a predetermined number of media content based at least in part on a number of votes received for each of said plurality of media content.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying said playlist on a display device.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining the availability of said media content of said playlist in a local database of a media server.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising downloading at least one of said media content of said playlist from a remote database in response to said at least one media content not being available in a local database.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing information about said played media content in a media server.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising assigning special effects to at least one of said media content in said playlist based at least in part on input from at least one of said plurality of registered members.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising authenticating at least one member of said plurality of members.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving biometric information from at least one of said plurality of members to authenticate said member.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said receiving biometric information comprises receiving biometric information selected from the group consisting of a voice print of said at least one member, a fingerprint of said at least one member, a facial image of said at least one member, and a retinal image of said at least one member, to authenticate said member.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a media terminal comprising a biometric input receiver, said biometric input receiver operable to receive biometric information from at least one of said plurality of members.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said providing said media terminal comprises providing said biometric input receiver selected from the group consisting of a microphone, a fingerprint scanner, a video camera, and a retinal scanner.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising assigning a password to at least one member of said plurality of members.  
     
     
         36 . A media server for a group directed media experience, comprising a processing module operable to automatically create a playlist of media content from a plurality of media content based at least in part on selection by a plurality of members of said group, said processing module further operable to play said media content in said playlist.  
     
     
         37 . The media server of  claim 36 , further comprising a user database operable to store information about at least one of said plurality of members.  
     
     
         38 . The media server of  claim 37 , wherein said information comprises information selected from the group consisting of a user ID of said at least one member, a name of said at least one member, password information, biometric information of said at least one member, status of said at least one member, email address of said at least one member, last login information of said at least one member, a preference of said at least one member, nomination records of said at least one member, voting records of said at least one member, and credit card number of said at least one member.  
     
     
         39 . The media server of  claim 36 , further comprising a media database coupled to said processing module, said media database for storing a plurality of media content.  
     
     
         40 . The media server of  claim 39 , further comprising a download module operable to download at least one media content of said playlist from a remote database in response to said at least one media content not being available in said media database.  
     
     
         41 . The media server of  claim 40 , wherein said remote database comprises a private collection of media content of at least one of said plurality of members.  
     
     
         42 . The media server of  claim 36 , further comprising a download module operable to download additional information on at least one media content of said plurality of media content in response to a request from at least one member of said plurality of members.  
     
     
         43 . The media server of  claim 36 , said processing module further operable to create a nomination list of media content from said plurality of media content selected by at least one member of said group based at least in part on predefined criteria.  
     
     
         44 . The media server of  claim 36 , further comprising a special effects module operable to interface with a special effects system.  
     
     
         45 . The media server of  claim 36 , said processing module further operable to retrieve information on media content selected by at least one of said plurality of members based at least in part on at least one search criteria provided by said at least one member.  
     
     
         46 . The media server of  claim 36 , said processing module further operable to register at least one of said plurality of members.  
     
     
         47 . The media server of  claim 36 , said processing module further operable to accept nominations from said plurality of members for inclusion in a nomination list.